Pachamama Alliance of Oregon

Men's Health Network (MHN) is a non-profit educational organization made up of physicians, researchers, public health workers, individuals and other health professionals.

MHN was founded in 1992 by a group of men's activists, therapists, and writers interested in improving the health and well-being of men, boys and families. It is a nonprofit incorporated in the District of Columbia. MHN has also been designated as a tax exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service code. Donations to MHN are tax deductible. MHN's Federal taxpayer identification number is 52-1855419.

MHN has received the highest rating (4 stars) from Charity Navigator.
Charity Navigator's mission states, "We help charitable givers make intelligent giving decisions by providing information on over five thousand charities and by evaluating the financial health of each of these charities. ... Charity Navigator ... does not accept any contributions from any charities we evaluate."
 

Goals

There is an ongoing, increasing and predominantly silent crisis in the health and well-being of men. Due to a lack of awareness, poor health education, and culturally induced behavior patterns in their work and personal lives, men's health and well-being are deteriorating steadily.

The men's health crisis is seen most dramatically in mortality figures. In 1920, the life expectancy of male s and females was roughly the same. Since that time and, increasingly, in the 1970's and 1980's, the life expectancy for men has dropped in comparison with that of women. Men's life expectancy now is over 10% lower than that of women. The average life expectancy (1991) for Black men is 65 years, that of Black women is 73 years. The average life expectancy for white men is 71 years, that of white women is 78 years. Over the last thirty years, the ratio of male mortality over female mortality has increased in every age category.

The Men's Health Network (MHN) was created to address the growing men's health crisis. The goals of MHN are as follows:

to save men's lives by reducing the premature mortality of men and boys. to increase the physical and mental health of men so that they can live fuller and happier lives. to significantly reduce the cycles of violence and addiction that afflict so many men. Energize government involvement in men's health activities so that existing government health networks can be utilized to increase the health and well being of men and boys. Encourage women to expand on their traditional role as the family's health care leader and activist for enhancement of health care services.

 

Strategy

The strategies employed by MHN include:

1. national educational campaigns to promote public and media awareness of men's health issues and to disseminate vital information on how to prevent disease, violence and addiction.
2. comprehensive public and retail screening and awareness programs that serve to make men aware of their health care needs and the importance of tending to those needs.
3. development a data collection system that allows MHN to act as a national clearinghouse for information about men's health issues.
4. providing and maintaining an ongoing network of health care providers and services that deal with men's health issues, combined with providing a telephone and mail referral service enabling MHN effectively to guide men and boys to the physical and psychological help they need.
5. working actively with health care providers and agencies to support better government programs on men's health issues and to spotlight the need for adequate funding of research and education on men's health needs.